Why Mama Is Needed Now

In addition to increasing access for women and children, the clinic
will save lives. Nicaraguan women are dying due to lack of access to
health care. According to the International Federation of Planned
Parenthood, maternal mortality is estimated at 159-300 deaths per
100,000 live births compared to a rate of 8 maternal deaths in the US.
Poverty further restricts access to care and worsens health outcomes.
Only 32.9% of poor women in Nicaragua have access to a trained birth
attendant versus 92% of wealthy women. For years, Mama Licha has seen
all individuals and families regardless of their ability to pay. In
addition, specific outreach will focus on high-risk adolescents, since
49% of girls become pregnant before the age of 19 years old in
Nicaragua. Specific attention will also focus on the unique health
and psycho-social needs of menopausal women as they age.

The initial phase of the project focused on constructing the new
facility that would house the clinic. Raising funds from individuals
and family foundations in the US, three large rooms, a kitchen and
bathroom were built. These rooms serve as an examination room, labor
birth room, education classroom, basic laboratory, health education
community resource center and space to house women who travel from
rural areas. The construction has been made with all local Nicaraguan
labor and materials.